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Snow leopard cubs under veterinary care

Now 10-weeks-old, the zoo’s female snow leopard cubs, Shanti and Asha, continue to receive special medical care behind the scenes.

Last week the two received cardiac
ultrasounds as a precautionary measure. The ultrasounds were performed by the
zoo’s volunteer veterinary cardiologist Dr. Jerry Woodfield of Northwest
Cardiology Consultants in Seattle. Findings revealed mild functional
deficiencies in several valves in the female cubs.

The zoo’s Director of Animal Health,
Dr. Darin Collins, tells us that the function of their hearts does not appear
to be compromised and there are no health concerns at this time related to
their hearts. This is good news, as you’ll remember back in June we shared the
heartbreaking news that their male littermate had to be euthanized because he
had been born with multiple severe heart defects that were causing early heart
failure.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

All three cubs were born with eye and
eyelid defects, known as multiple ocular coloboma. According to Dr. Collins,
both of the surviving cubs have impaired vision and are under close
observation. Additionally, they continue to receive eye examinations by Dr. Tom
Sullivan, the zoo’s volunteer veterinary ophthalmologist with the Animal Eye
Clinic in Seattle, who performed the first of multiple minor procedures to the
eyelids last month.

The overall health of the cubs appears stable
but their long-term prognosis remains guarded, particularly their visual
capabilities.

The cubs are still nursing and have recently
begun eating solid foods—a diet of diced chicken and beef. They currently weigh
between 8 and 9 pounds.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Curator Dr. Jennifer Pramuk tells us
that the cubs are eating well but their motor skills are not at a level where
they should be at this age, and growth development is a bit lagging. Because of
their special needs, we cannot determine when the cubs will go on public
exhibit.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

They are venturing out of the maternal
den into the outdoor holding enclosure but they will require a longer period of
time to develop motor skills and adjust to the spacious surroundings in the
public exhibit before zoo-goers can see them.

The father was born with the same
congenital eye defect. His first litter of two cubs with the same mother was
born healthy and normal. The coloboma condition has been seen in snow leopards
at other zoos. The cause of coloboma remains unknown. Zoo staff will be
attending a national meeting of zoo professionals next week in Utah to discuss
the disease impacts on the overall population of this endangered species.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Since snow leopards are solitary
animals in the wild, the father has been separated and is on public view in the
snow leopard exhibit adjacent to Australasia.

The snow leopard, an endangered
species, is a moderately large cat native to the high mountain ranges of
Central Asia and Russia, including in Afghanistan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan,
Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan. Snow leopard scientists estimate as few as 3,500
remain in the wild.

As
part of Woodland Park Zoo’s partnership with 36 field conservation projects in
the Pacific Northwest and around the world, the zoo partners with the
Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust. The Trust was created in 1981 by the late
Woodland Park Zoo staff member Helen Freeman, the namesake of the mother of the
newborn cubs. Through innovative programs, effective partnerships, and the
latest science, the SLT is saving these endangered cats and improving the lives
of people who live in the snow leopard countries of Central Asia.

The snow leopard enclosure atr Woodland Park Zoo--which isn't visible in this video--is actually quite spacious, natural, and provides a multi-level environment for the cats to run and climb. What's showing here is the "backstage" area where medical care is provided.

The enclosure space for snow leopards at Woodland Park Zoo is actually quite open, spacious, green and natural, and multileveled to provide the cats with exercise and privacy. What is shown here is the "backstage" area where medical care is provided. When the cubs are healthy and old enough to go out, as the article says, they'll be allowed into the larger enclosure.

They're so precious. Thank goodness they'll at least get to grow up and live in an environment where they'll be safe and provided good care. Hopefully the cause of this abnormality will be found and solved quickly. Seems to me a little odd they would breed a father known to have this problem though.

I have a blind kitty at home. She's unbelievably agile/capable. She plays, runs, climbs stairs. If you change her environment she'll run into stuff though. With the right care these kitties can have happy lives.

The little poor snow leopard cubs looks so cute! It's sad to hear about their eye and eyelid defects, thank good they live in a safe environment and get veterinary care.World of Animals in philadelphia

Those cubs are very adorable indeed but that one eye damaged cub is really made me emotional. It's sad to learn what happened with those cubs but thanks to all of you guys for taking care of those cubs properly. Thanks.snow leopards